Me & Ollies opens fifth location

GREENLAND — The fifth location of Me & Ollie's will be the first to have a drive-through window.

By Karen Dandurant

seacoastonline.com

By Karen Dandurant

Posted Jul. 15, 2008 at 2:00 AM

By Karen Dandurant

Posted Jul. 15, 2008 at 2:00 AM

ME & OLLIE'S

Newest location features a drive-through on Route 33 next to the Cumberland Farms convenience store.

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ME & OLLIE'S

Newest location features a drive-through on Route 33 next to the Cumberland Farms convenience store.

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GREENLAND — The fifth location of Me & Ollie's will be the first to have a drive-through window.

Owner Roger Elkus said his company is taking over 655 Portsmouth Ave. in Greenland, the location of the former Coffee Beanery. He said he was invited to locate there by the landlord, Peter Getman, principal brand director of MicroArts, which is located in the same plaza on Route 33 next to the Cumberland Farms convenience store.

There are currently two Me & Ollie's locations in Portsmouth, one in Exeter and a fourth in Hampton.

"We are working on this spot now and hope to open by the end of this month," Elkus said. "It's a beautiful location so we are just 'Ollie-izing' it."

The Coffee Beanery is a franchise out of Michigan, Elkus said.

"Primarily, the vast majority of them are found in malls or airports," he said. "This was a different concept for them, and it didn't work out.

"In business there are a lot of reasons for that to happen. It's never good news to see someone put a lot of time into a business and have it not work out."

Elkus said he was actually talking with Getman about a possible design project when the subject of the new location came up.

"He was naming the sandwiches his kids get, and then he said, 'We'd love to be able to walk downstairs and get that,'" Elkus said. "The Coffee Beanery was still in business at that time."

Getman said he wanted Me & Ollie's to come to Greenland.

"We cornered (Elkus), selfishly on my part because myself and my family love his products," Getman said. "We need the spot in town where everyone goes to hang out on a Saturday."

Getman said his team at MicroArts couldn't be more "stoked." They are painting the building in Elkus' colors to support his move.

"There was even talk of getting rid of the coffee maker," he said.

"We feel his presence in our building increases its value as a whole, and the traffic will support our tenants," Getman added. "Spend 10 minutes with (Elkus) and you know he's one of the good guys."

Elkus said the restaurant is very inviting.

"It has a nice, open, vaulted ceiling and a post-and-beam style," he said. "It was an old house once, and they used some of that in the structure."

The other interesting piece is the drive-through," Elkus said, citing the challenges of combining the convenience with a great product. "We never did one with Me & Ollies."

The solution seems to be a compromise involving a limited drive-through menu.

"We can't do our entire menu," Elkus said. "Think about six cars lining up ... each panini takes four minutes to grill."

Elkus said he is working on ideas for his drive-through menu.

"We can call it 'Olllie's Greatest Hits,'" he said. "We want it to be as good as if you sat inside."

The morning crowd is less challenging to please. Coffee, and fresh-baked muffins, cinnamon buns and scones are easier to offer, Elkus said.